BORROWS Synonyms: 54 Similar and Opposite Words

borrows

verb

present tense third-person singular of borrow

as in adopts

to take for one's own use (something originated by another) borrowed the basic plot from a book of tales, but put her personal stamp on the story

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of borrows The Edge borrows much of the Pixel Watch’s design language as far as widgets and user interface go. — Victoria Song, The Verge, 12 Oct. 2026 Occasionally, VisionQuest does this in a clever way, as with an inventive late sequence that borrows from WandaVision‘s sitcom language. — Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 12 Oct. 2026 In that spirit, too, Knight’s film borrows much from the library of fantasy and folklore, but with enough of its own exuberance and imagination to feel like a new standard. — Guy Lodge, Variety, 11 Oct. 2026 The cocktail menu borrows ideas from fine dining, with creations such as a caviar martini and a parmigiano colada. — Alessia Armenise, Condé Nast Traveler, 9 Oct. 2026 The hybrid option that borrows from both Want the best of both without extra steps? — Hanna Wickes, Kansas City Star, 7 Oct. 2026 The painting borrows its name from the old maritime belief that the ninth wave is the largest and most powerful wave in a sequence of ocean waves. — Hikmat Mohammed, ARTnews.com, 6 Oct. 2026 Under this strategy, a person borrows a set amount from his or her 401(k) account and slowly replenishes the account over time through payments deducted automatically from pay stubs. — ABC News, 5 Oct. 2026 The state borrows billions of dollars annually by selling bonds to investors to finance municipal school construction, highway, bridge and rail repairs, construction work at public universities and other capital projects. — Keith M. Phaneuf, Hartford Courant, 4 Oct. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for borrows

Verb

The 20-plus-piece collection adopts a modular system and adjustable silhouettes.

— Denni Hu, Footwear News, 14 Oct. 2026
Before the city or state adopts or regulates an AI tool that touches housing, jobs, benefits or immigration, the people affected should be asked first.

— Steven Choi, New York Daily News, 4 Oct. 2026

Definition of adopts

Verb

In Asia, leaders are traditionally expected to project absolute certainty; a stance that instead embraces uncertainty puts their credibility and authority on the line.

— Ryoji Sekido, Fortune, 13 Oct. 2026
The Harmony Suite, for example, embraces shades of blue, wave-like motifs, and all things water.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 Oct. 2026

Definition of embraces

Browse Nearby Words

borrowing

borrows

boscage

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Borrows.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/borrows. Accessed 19 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of borrows

verb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

fervid

Popular in Grammar & Usage

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Popular in Wordplay

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Bad Endings and Rough Situations

Did 'orange' the fruit or the color come first?

Popular

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

Games & Quizzes